Fifty years ago, a transistor radio was a revolutionary way to hear music when people were away from home. A small, battery-powered radio was just the thing for a summer day at the beach. For the first time, people could pack their favorite Beach Boys tunes into beach bags along with tanning oil and towels.

People happily accepted the poor, tinny sound and static that came with their favorite California summer surfin’ songs.

Times have changed since engineer and inventor, Masaru Ibuka, and his friend, Akio Morita produced Japan’s first transistor radio in 1955. Their company, Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corp., was renamed Sony Corp. in 1958. The company also produced the first tape recorder in 1950, the first videocassette recorder for home use in 1975, and the world’s first compact-disc player in 1982.

Today, people can listen to music of their choosing with a digital-audio player, more commonly called an MP3 player. It’s a device that stores, organizes and plays audio files. Some even provide image-viewing, double as cell phones and are portholes to the Internet.

This MP3 player holder is a low-tech way to transport the high-tech devices with your favorite tunes to the pool. It is easy to make and definitely a cool accessory for your beach look.

I found directions for the tune tote at the National Geographic Kids Web site at http://kids.nationalgeographic.com. Type MP3 player holder in the search box. I modified the directions for our use.

Find an old pair of jeans with back pockets that your MP3 player will fit in snugly. I found a pair at a resale shop for a couple of dollars. The pocket already had a flower and leaf decoration embroidered on the pocket. I added a few more embellishments to give it some sparkle.

Supplies you will need:

-An old pair of jeans.

-Scissors.

-Decorative patches, beads, buttons or transfers.

-Glue.

-Needle and thread.

-Cord.

Cut around the seam along the bottom and sides of the pockets, but leave the waistband of the jeans intact.

Carefully remove two belt loops from the waistband. Reposition the loops on the outside edges above the pocket and sew them back on to the waistband.

Decorate the holder with iron-on transfers (with help from an adult), embroidered pictures or sticky-backed scrapbook decorations. Glue beads or buttons on the belt loops and pocket.

Insert a cord or belt through the loops to carry.